Mary Rowlands

I just got back from my medical in Toronto last night. There was a huge storm on the way home so the trip took double the time. I was originally planning on driving to Montreal the day before (December 3rd) since I booked a hotel and driving home the day of my interview. I am considering going my train in case their is another huge storm.

Are there any places to store luggage near the consulate? I would have my travel back and I know I can’t bring that to the consulate with me. I originally planned on leaving it in my car but if I take the train, that won’t be an option.  I know the train station has lockers but I don’t want to have to get a cab from the hotel to the train station to leave my stuff, then head to the consulate, especially early in the morning.

4 minutes ago, MT and BT said:

It's true! I have my spousal visa interview scheduled in Montreal for Nov. 12, and I just received an email from them that they will be rescheduling it (for later... 😢) because of the move.   

That sucks. I booked my hotel a few days ago (non-refundable) so I am hoping they don't reschedule mine.

For the actual interview, I have ADHD with short term memory loss and severe anxiety. I have been taken to the hospital by ambulance over my anxiety/panic attacks and have had paramedics called on more than one occasion. I have a doctor's note specifying this information. My fiance plans to drive me to the Consulate in Montreal but I know they have on their website only the applicant will be admitted to the building and it's a case-by-case basis if another person may be admitted (an Interpreter or a person with special needs may have someone attend with them).

I am already having anxiety as it is over the interview and my fiance planned to wait in the waiting room with me. Has anyone had a similar experience with being allowed to bring someone with them (I don't want to have an attack during the interview and blow my chances of passing and don't want to have issues finding the location due to my memory loss).

I have my K1 interview on December 4th and had the address printed out for the consulate.

I saw on their Facebook that they posted their offices are changing locations (further away from the hotel I booked a few days ago lol).

Has anyone heard anything about this?

As of November 12th, their offices will be located at

1134 Sainte-Catherine Street West

Montreal, Quebec

H3B 1H4

14 minutes ago, wingman23 said:

Got this from travel.state.gov:

 

Due to the difficulty in obtaining adoption records, U.S. diplomatic posts in Canada usually do not require adopted applicants to obtain their adoption records for visa purposes unless the adoption record is essential to demonstrating the relationship through which a benefit is claimed. However, U.S. posts reserve the right to request them if the circumstances of the case require it. Applicants who need to obtain pre-adoption birth records and adoption orders should use the contacts listed below.

I figured it wasn't required but thought I would bring a copy anyways, just in case

7 hours ago, wingman23 said:

photos are US passport sizes - 2x2. went to a local photo studio and requested for 2x2 photos. 

 

walmart photos are CA passport sizes. i think 2x2.75 if im not mistaken. wrong size for our purpose.

 

no harm in bringing in your adoption papers, original and photocopy, to the interview. hand it over if they ask. if they don't, at least you are prepared.

I made a copy of my adoption paper and my baptism paper. My mom wants to keep the originals of those. I am sure a photocopy only will suffice if needed.

In my email from the Consulate, telling me they were sending me my Packet 4, it has a list of things to bring to the interview. It lists adoption decrees but doesn't show this on the K1 Interview Checklist. I was adopted when I was a baby so do I need to bring my adoption information as it doesn't mention this on the Checklist but in the standard email?

OR is this only if you have a child you have adopted and you plan to bring said child to the US (I don't have any children)?

19 minutes ago, purem4g1c said:

i downloaded a phone app called "Passport Photo", took my photo on a white wall with good lighting (no shadows etc), then I went on walmart photo center and printed my photo's, got 20 photos for $4, way better than using grocery stores price, it really is not hard to take your own photo and save a bunch of cash.

I would have done that but didn't think of it. Oh well

5 hours ago, klgck said:

I saw at my Walmart that the 12.97 was for Canadian sizes only, so maybe that's why! But good to know you can get them done there.

At mine, they also took a bunch of regular photos and I got to choose one (digital) for free.

I'm guessing the $12.97 is for Canadian sized passport photos. I should have asked when I saw the sign in store.

On the Walmart website and in stores, it says 2 passport photos are $12.97 (in-store only) so not sure why I was charged $29.99 for 2 and $9.99 for the extra two. I tried calling Walmart but the person wasn't helpful at all.

It does say for Canadian passport only so not sure if that's why.

I just got back from Walmart and for 4 photos, it cost me $45 Canadian.

When I got my previous photos taken at Shoppers (I didn't realize I needed US sized), it was over $20 Canadian for two photos.

6 minutes ago, klgck said:

I am going to Henry's this weekend to get mine done. Staples can do them, too. If you Google 'US sized passports near me,' you might be able to find something else closer to you!

Just checked and the Henry's in my town doesn't do passport photos. Checked Staples website and I believe it might so I will check there.

7 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

You can take the picture yourself and print 6 on a 4x6 picture (will cost you 50¢ to print...).  Not as hard as taking Canadian passports pictures. 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/photos.html

 

Many tools online if you want to validate/resize your picture. 

I'd consider doing that but my digital camera is at my fiance's house.

20 minutes ago, klgck said:

You need US sized for both the interview and the medical!

What locations do US sized passport photos?

For the passport photo, they told me I need a US sized passport photo. I have previously gotten mine taken at Shopper's Drug Mart (for the interview). Will these suffice or do I need to specify I need US sized passport photos?

1 hour ago, klgck said:

I'm going to Dr. Mascarenhas next week in Toronto. I am in the Niagara region, so it's not too hard for me to get there. It's also downtown, which make it easier since I am taking the bus! It's $350 for the medical alone, and then another $50 for the results to be mailed to you or you can pick them up. 1 passport photo is required along with a vaccination checklist.

I just registered on the website and sent the required email

My question was which medical office do people tend to steer towards? I see most require 4+ passport photos, on top of the ones needed for the interview. Do any/all of them send the report back to you (for extra) or do you have to drive back to the location to pick the paperwork up?

What is the closest you can get the medical done before the interview.

I was able to book my K1 Interview in Montreal for December 4th, 2019.

I know Ontario has 3 locations for the medical and Quebec has 1 location.

I reside in Kingston so wasn't sure which office would be the best location. I would prefer Quebec but can't go a week or so before my interview, then drive back down for the interview.

Any help is appreciated. I plan on getting the vaccines needed before the medical exam.

I received the approved 129F in the mail in August (it was approved in July). My lawyer submitted the Packet 3 in August and never heard anything. I finally decided to submit the Packet 3 on October 8th and got my packet 4 on October 10th. I wish I had submitted the Packet 3 when my lawyer did. Now just waiting for interview dates to become available.

I finally received my Packet 4 via email

Resent the packet 3 stuff (a few days ago) and according to the Visa Check, my case was updated on October 2, 2019 with Ready and saying the exact same stuff as before (can book the interview, etc) (it was previously updated August 30th, 2019 when we sent the packet 3 stuff on August 29th, 2019). I have yet to receive the email (in my spam or otherwise) for Packet 4.

2 hours ago, flfreddy said:

Have you checked your email spam for P4?  P4 is an email.

Yes, I have checked my Spam in the past and nothing (as stated in the original post).

2 minutes ago, TennilleO said:

From what I've seen on this site most of the packets give you the next steps. You should check the subforum for your country. Also you interview needs to be scheduled before your application expires. I would suggest applying for extension unless you have already scheduled the interview. I believe once your case said ready you could have paid the fee , completed the ds160, and scheduled your interview. Then you would need to get a police report and medical done closer to the interview date.  This is what everyone is required to do. Any other info would be country specific. 

The DS160 was already submitted and approved, the police report was already done and submitted. The website shows I have been able to schedule my interview for over a month now but I haven't received the Packet 4 and it advises not to book the interview without receiving the packet.

Our case was created on July 2nd, 2019. According to the US Department of State website, our case has been Ready since I first checked in August.

I haven't received the Packet 4 yet, the I29F expires this month (Packet 3 was sent ages ago).

I am not sure what to do about this because I definitely should have received information by now (especially when it says I am able to schedule my interview at the Consulate in Montreal).

Any help is appreciated. Since we first files for the K1, it has been almost a year now, and it's frustrating, to say the least.

EDIT: I have checked my spam folder (I check it frequently) and there isn't anything in there. I did email the consulate about this 5 days ago but have yet to hear back.